Month: September 2009

With the departure of former Indios Head Coach, Hector Hugo Eugui I feel that the Tribe is left in complete disarray only 4 days prior to what has come the most important game in this Apertura 2009 season against Queretaro. With the terrible season that the Indios have had thus far this upcoming game against the newly promoted Queretaro has become a very meaningful game because the two worst teams this season in both the general standings and in the relegation standings are going to go head to head.

Queretaro has only 3 points on the season in 10 games giving them a .3 points per game average while the Tribe has a 1.045 points per game average courtesy of 46 points in 44 games. On Saturday afternoon at 4 pm local time my theory that this season for the Tribe has been the epitome of bad luck and nothing more will be put to the test as Indios will face with out a doubt the team with the least talent in Mexico's Premier Soccer Division.

Both of these team's are coming into this matchup with a loss (Queretaro lost to Morelia Sunday afternoon 5-0, while Indios lost to Estudiantes 2-1) and both teams will come into Saturday's game full of hope to start to turn this season around. As much as I hate to say it though I think that its going to be more difficult for the Tribe to get the win than for Queretaro.

Indios will be lead by interim head coach Gabino Amparan who to my understanding has no head coaching experience at the "major league" level. Its just going to be interesting how he is gong to lineup the team come Saturday and how his strategy is going to play out. I would like to see drastic changes in the Tribe's offensive scheme. After all, everyone says that this ship is sinking, if it is then the Indios better go down swinging. I feel that Indio fans would appreciate that, regardless of the outcome.

Speaking of offensive aggressiveness, it is rumored that the strong candidate for the job is Ruben Omar Romano. This a head coach who does not have a job right now. What I like the most about him is that he comes from the Ricardo LaVolpe school of coaching which only means one thing, offensive aggressiveness. This is something all Indio followers are hungry for, including yours truly. Until next time, VAMOS Indios!!!

Hello all. I just got the media release moments ago and I wanted to let you know that the head coach for CF Indios, Hector Hugo Eugui is no longer the head coach for the Tribe. This according to director of media relations, Ramon Morales. According to Morales both Eugui and the Indios front office came to a mutual agreement that this course of action would be best for both the club and Eugui. Gambino Amparan, Sports Director for Indios will now serve as interim head coach until the Indios front office names a new coach which they are currently efforting. More information will be posted as I get it. VAMOS Indios!!!

Head coach for CF Indios, Hector Hugo Eugui gave a reinvigorating press conference today after the team's morning practice. The head coach for the Tribe called Saturday's tie "priceless" that resulted "…from the team's great effort and hard work on the field against a direct rival, in terms of relegation, in their stadium and our players lived up to the challenge". He then quickly shifted focus to this Saturday's game against Estudiantes. Eugui said that this team has to believe in order to hope, instead of hoping and seeing what happens. Coach Eugui then alluded to and gave a hint of the sense of urgency that this team has saying that, "For us, there is no tomorrow…."

I'm glad that he acknowledged that time is of the essence and it will be interesting how the head coach attacks this "lack of time" on the field and if we will see a more aggressive team formation/lineup talking in terms of an offensive attack come Saturday evening at 6 pm at Benito Juarez Olympic Stadium. For now, he hinted at who will most likely will replace Indios new team captain Juan De La Barrera on Saturday since he will not be available on Saturday because of his red card in the game against Tigres. With little or no surprise it will be Syndey Balderas who will hold the fort down in the center defender position along with Javier Hernan Malagueno. Balderas who with Indios has been an off and on starter at the right defender position throughout his tenure with the Tribe will move to the position that he originally plays.

As for who will wear the Captain's armband come saturday remains to be seen. Most likely it will be Edwin Santibanez again. It will be intresting to see how he responds to the reassignment as the Indios leader on the field of play. What I noticed during this last game against Tigres was that he was more involved with the ref than was Juan De La Barrera, arguing and taking a stand against the questionable calls that were made by referee Efraim Ramirez against the team from the Borderland last Saturday versus Tigres. I guess old habits die hard, good for you Edwin. Until next time, VAMOS Indios!!!

NOTE: Don't forget to hear me on the radio during my weekly Indios segment on both Sportstalk with Steve Kaplowitz, Friday's at 6:05, and on Crunchtime with Mando "The Monster" Medina every gameday Saturday at 11:35. Both shows are on Newsradio AM 600 KROD.

As the days go by and the day draws near, the value of Saturday's game against Tigres de U.A.N.L in the city of Monterrey comes into clearer focus. A win for the Tribe on Saturday would do a lot for the team from the Borderland. It would double the amount of points that the Indios have on the season (3 to 6). The victory would also loosen the noose that this team has around its neck, especially around the neck of head coach Hector Hugo Eugui. Eugui has been in front of a firing squad for the last couple of weeks because of the lack of results that this team has achieved from the media and fans alike. It would also give the team a great confidence boost for the second half of this Apertura 2009 Season. All of these points are rather obvious, I'm aware. Here comes one that may not be….

An Indios victory would mean that they would pass Tigres in the relegation table, giving the Tribe a 1.12 points per game average (48 points divided by 43 games played in first division equals 1.12), Tigres points per game would drop to 1.09. This result would move the Indios to 16th place on the table and drop Tigres to 17th. The next few games after Tigres on the Indios schedule are very manageable (they play Estudiantes in Juarez, then Queretaro on the road) and adding 3 points at time week after week for Indios would catapult them into a legitimate shot for the second playoff spot in the Tribe's group which at this point in the season is still wide open for any takers.

Think all of this is too far fetched??? Ask yourself, where were the Indios in the first weekend in May, just 5 months ago? They were fighting for continued existence in Mexico's Premier Soccer Division and they made it to the semi-finals in the playoffs. There is 9 games left on the season, 4 of those at home and a lot of damage to be done. Whether this damage is done on the positive or negative side for the Tribe only time will tell. One thing is for certain, it sure is going to be exciting. Until next time, VAMOS Indios!!!

NOTE: Joe Rodriguez appears on Newsradio's AM 600 KROD's shows Sportstalk with Steve Kaplowitz every Friday from 6:05pm-6:35pm and Crunchtime with Mando "The Monster" Medina every Saturday home game from 11:30am-12:00pm. Make sure you tune in.

The Indios lost their 5th game of the 2009 Apertura Season on Saturday Night to Toluca by a score of 1-0 in Benito Juarez Stadium. The gol for the Red Devils came in the 42 minute as the only spark that Toluca's best player, Antonio Naelson, had the entire game was enough to give the team from the state of Mexico the win by the minimal difference. Naelson juked two Indios defender's in the box down the right side and chipped a center over the head of Indios goalkeeper Lozano and Toluca forward Hector Mancilla headed the ball into the back of the net.

This result keeps the Indios at 3 points out of a disputed 24, only ahead of Queretaro (Which is the new team that was promoted in the beginning of the season.) For a team that has played a lot better than this three points indicate, this is the reality of what everyone is going through with this team, from the players, to the front office and of course, the fans. Last night once again you saw an Indios team that played and kept up with the best team in Mexican soccer…with a man down no less (Juan Ramon Curbello was red carded in the 64th minute). However, this team's will and shear determination once again was not enough to generate a positive result.

After the game I attended the Head Coach's post game press conference. The usual and expected quotes were said (especially by Indios Head Coach Hector Hugo Eugui) so no need to really talk about them. As I walked out with a few members of the media Indios midfielder Edwin Santibanez was slipping out an unmarked exit from the stadium we caught up with him and chatted with him as a friend and strictly off the record. While I'm not going to reveal the contents of the conversation, I will tell you this. This is a player, more importantly a person who is suffering as much as the fans when it comes to the lack of positive results that this team has produced, after Saturday Night's game you could see it on his face and overall body language. Have no doubt about it Indios fans, he cares as much as the most loyal Indios fan and this crisis that this team is going through is just as heartfelt to him.

As we wrapped up our brief conversation some fans gathered and asked for autographs and pictures, forcing a small smile on his face he was kind enough grant fans their request. As he finished up with the fans I told him I would talk to him later (in spanish), and then I told him in English, "Hang in there, everything is going to be alright…..". He looked at me kind of baffled and then I translated what I had just said to Spanish, in which he responded, in his best English, with a simple generous "Thank You". Indios fans, the same message I told Santibanez goes for you to. Until next time, VAMOS Indios!!!!